Alternate Alexandria Waterfront Plan Coming Today

A group opposed to current plans to redevelop Alexandria's waterfront area will unveil an alternate proposal of their own at an event Sunday evening.

Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan (CAAWP) has opposed the city's design for the historic waterfront and called for more parks and development in existing buildings along the Potomac.

The current plan, first proposed by the city this past spring and the subject of further examination by an eight-member citizens group appointed by Mayor William Euille, singles out three sites for redevelopment: Robinson Terminal North, Robinson Terminal South, and the so-called "Cummings-Turner Block," which is located in the 200 block of South Union Street.

The Robinson Terminals are among the biggest points of contention in the controversy between the city and CAAWP. Both buildings are owned by Robinson Terminal Warehouse Company, a subsidiary of the Washington Post Company, and are used for newsprint storage and transfer. According to thePost, part of CAAWP's report will accuse the city of agreeing to allow more dense zoning on Robinson-owned land in exchange for the company agreeing to try and put hotels on it.

City officials denied CAAWP's claim to the Post, pointing out that the current proposal is the culmination of a two-year-long effort to solicit opinions from the community.

CAAWP argues that the decision to allow higher-density zoning would open the door to high-rise hotels in the style of the National Harbor development in Prince George's County. That in turn, they argue, would lead to more vehicular traffic than the area's narrow streets can handle and increased parking problems.

Article Source: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Alternate-Alexandria-Waterfront-Plan-Coming-Today-132882298.html

The presentation of the report will take place at 6 p.m. at the Athenaeum at 201 Prince Street. The unveiling will be preceded and followed by a reception. The plan will also be available on CAAWP'swebsite.

OTJ's New Blog Post

Enviva's Green Story: How OTJ Designed a Company's Headquarters to Reflect Its Commitment to Sustainability

MAR29

Written by: otjblogger 
3/29/2011 3:13 PM  

As one of the world’s leading biomass energy companies, Enviva sustainably sources energy-rich wood residues and transforms them into renewable fuels like Wood Chips, Mini Chips, Micro Chips, and Wood Pellets for industrial and utility-scale energy applications. Since Enviva biomass is carbon-neutral, customers who use their renewable fuels significantly reduce their carbon footprint and achieve independence from the price volatility of fossil fuels. Enviva’s motto expresses their dedication: “We help our clients build a sustainable future.”



Since Enviva’s mission and business practices as a company are directly tied to the well-being of the environment, the goals for their new office space were no less dedicated. One of the primary goals in moving their headquarters to Downtown Bethesda was to reduce carbon emissions by locating their offices in a dense urban environment with access to major public transportation and walk-able amenities. Furthermore, more than 60% of their staff was living in the greater Washington, DC area and commuting to their previous offices in Richmond, VA. This new location for Enviva would house closed and open offices, conference rooms, pantries, and open work areas – all with direct visibility to the exterior environment and natural light.




7200 Wisconsin Avenue is a twelve story, Class A office building constructed in 1986 and has a total gross square footage of 269,014 square feet. In addition to the existing parking garage, the building provides an area for bicycle storage, showers in the penthouse for tenant use, and a large recycling collection center. The building also features terraced setbacks and curved window walls on all sides with spectacular views. The landscaped urban plaza has a sculpture pavilion, clock tower, trellised walkways, terraced waterfalls, sculptured seating and flower gardens. The Lobby is surfaced in rose granite, mahogany and bronze and has vaulted ceilings. The building has state-of-the-art 24-hour computerized energy management and monitoring system.



Several of the primary elements for meeting LEED points were incorporated into this unique design. For example, all of the carpeting, flooring, laminate surfaces and ceiling tiles were made with recycled content. The drywall was made in part with paperless lining, and specialty materials included 100% Reclaimed wood floors salvaged from an old barn in North Carolina and a PaperStone countertop made of layers of recycled paper. There were many unseen materials with high recycled content as well - including ceiling tiles, metal studs, insulation and drywall. All paints used for the project contained little or no volatile organic compounds (VOC), and the flooring in all workrooms and pantries was made with recycled/recyclable materials with eco-responsible pigments (instead of petroleum based products). Rubber base was substituted for standard vinyl throughout the project as well.



Energy efficiency and waste reduction were two major components of the LEED design strategy as well. The latter included mini-recycling stations being placed at all pantries and near workstations for ease of use. Each recycling station would separate the paper, plastics and regular debris. They also achieved 85% recycled construction waste with off-site separation. Meanwhile, electrical engineers provided motion sensors in all offices and open spaces to activate lights only when needed. Most light fixtures throughout the space are direct/indirect fluorescent fixtures with extremely high efficiency. The HVAC systems save energy through reduced cooling loads while providing fresh air. The faucets were fitted with low-flow aerators at 1.5 gpm and all new eligible appliances were “Energy Star” compliant. To top it all off, Enviva voluntarily purchased 100% green power offset.



All of these elements in Enviva’s new space will create a positive and pleasing environment for the staff as well as the people who maintain the facility. The entire LEED initiative and sustainability goals reflected the same ideology of Enviva’s mission statement - building a sustainable future.

OPX Awarded MC Dean Contract
3/21/2011
OPX was awarded a contract with MC Dean, a large engineering firm headquartered in Northern Virginia, to provide macro concept development, detailed programming and site selection support services for a pending consolidation.

Washington Post: DC'S GREENEST BUILDINGS

D.C. among ‘greenest’ for buildings

Michael S. Williamson/ THE WASHINGTON POST - At the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Annapolis headquarters, special sensors turn off the lights closest to the natural light but lights remain on in the rest of the building.

The District leads the Washington region in “green” buildings, according to an assessment that examines environmentally friendly building practices.


 The report, compiled by the group’s planners and presented Wednesday to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, offers the first comprehensive look at how the push to build greener buildings is playing out in communities.

Between 2003 and 2009, the Washington region added about 23 million square feet of LEED-certified green building space through new construction and conversion of existing space. The District led the way, with 72 projects that earned LEED certification, followed by Northern Virginia with 59 projects and Maryland with 40. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification rates buildings based on how well they meet certain green standards for construction and operation.

“We have focused on making the region a national leader in green building,” said Andrea Harrison, chairwoman of the COG board. Several members of the board said they hoped that future reports on green building trends in the region would include recommendations on how to promote projects.

Washington area communities were among the first in the United States to embrace green building principles. Frederick County and Gaithersburg have green building codes on the books, the report says. In 2006, the District passed the Green Building Act, which phased in rules that require buildings to pollute less. That year, Montgomery County officials passed a similar measure requiring certain buildings to include environmentally friendly, energy-saving features such as low-flow toilets.

The District is also considered a national model forgreen construction, said Roger Platt, senior vice president for global policy and law at the U.S. Green Building Council, which administers the LEED certification program.

According to a council report released last month, the District ranked first in the country in green buildings per capita, with about 25 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2010. Nevada — in part because of the density of so many of its building projects — was second, with 10.92 square feet.

Platt said the District ranks high in part because its leaders have embraced green building and because the city and its developers have benefited from a relatively healthy economy and stable workforce in need of office space. In addition, the Obama, Bush and Clinton administrations made commitments to making buildings more environmentally friendly.

“D.C. is a poster child for how, in the last couple of years, high-performance green buildings have continued to be built,” Platt said. It’s “a more sophisticated market, where tenants and investors find [green buildings] appealing.”

Cocktails in an Art Gallery.... Yes Pease!!

From Thrillist: 

Lamont Bishop Gallery

Tapping into the art scene

The art world's never been a dry one, from Van Gogh's epic absinthe benders, to that time when Jackson Pollock accidentally spilled his cranberry juice over all those canvasses. For a new spot letting you enjoy art whilst getting similarly loose, check out the Lamont Bishop Gallery.

Just opened and named for the owner's art school mentor, Lamont Bishop aims to p-arty, showcasing "the nation’s emerging contemporary artists with budding collectors" in a converted old butcher's shop with an exposed brick front room gallery under the original '20s tin ceiling, and a back room with a lacquered birch bar and custom-crafted rolling DJ booth, because who wants to listen to a DJ who isn't? To get the creative juices flowing, the bar's armed with three taps (one's pouring Batch 19), French Pierre Ferrand Cognac, and cab, merlot, and chardonnay from Cali's Wooden Bottle Wine (actually comes in a wooden bottle). Oh also, there's art there too, with the first, currently running exhibition being UMD-grad Annie Kielman's multimedia multi-dimensional work, which ranges from a black skate deck anchoring elaborately flowing sheets of black foam, to the "Control Top" installation, consisting of coral-like structures sprouting from the walls and made from nylon stockings stuffed with Styrofoam bean bag balls.

Up next, they'll be hosting an exhibit called "Exposed: The Polaroid Retrospective II", which'll feature photos from 26 different artists taken on Polaroid cameras.

Read more: http://www.thrillist.com/bars/washington/dc/20001/mount-vernon-sq/lamont-bishop-gallery_lounges#ixzz1GbRLBp3F

FEATURED PROJECTS   ON THE BOARDS    HOTELS    SPAS    MULTI-RESIDENTIAL    ForrestPerkins To Design Interiors for Five-Star St. Regis in Amman, Jordan     Working With Al Maabar and Starwood Hotels on Mixed-Use Development   Washington, DC (March 2011) - ForrestPerkins, the international architecture and design firm, has been awarded the interior design for the St. Regis Amman and The Residences at St. Regis Amman in Jordan by Al Maabar Abdoun Real Estate Development Company. This five-star luxury hotel and multi-residential project will mark St. Regis' first entrée into Jordan.ForrestPerkins is honored to have been selected for this project and to be working with Al Maabar Abdoun Real Estate Development Company and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Stephen Perkins, AIA, ISHC, co-founder and principal of ForrestPerkins, is inspired by the project. "The ancient and modern history, natural and urban fabric, culture and rich traditions of this important international city offer a rich lode of influences for the design of such an important new development," he says. The new St. Regis Amman will be located in Abdoun, an exclusive neighborhood of Amman that is home to many embassies and ambassadors' residences. The hotel will feature 270  guest rooms, including 91 suites, four restaurants and a supper club, a café, ballroom, bar, pool and pool bar, spa and fitness center. The Residences at St. Regis Amman will include approximately 80 branded units. ForrestPerkins will design the one- to five-bedroom apartments, lobby, fitness center and gourmet shops within the residential segment of the development. ForrestPerkins' successful work in luxury hotels and multi-family residences is known for its stunning sophistication and beauty balanced with practicality. The firm has designed and/or renovated more than 100 luxury hotels and multi-family residences worldwide, including two of the premier hotels in the Jabal Omar Development Project in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ForrestPerkins also designed the first showroom to open in the Middle East for Kohler Interiors Hospitality (KIH). This elegant showroom was developed with Quartet Specialized Furniture, KIH's regional franchisee, in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ForrestPerkins, which has offices in Washington, DC, Dallas, Texas and San Francisco, California will provide the interior design services for the St. Regis Amman and The Residences at St. Regis Amman, and New York-based Perkins Eastman Architects (no relation) will be the Architect of Record. The Al Maabar Abdoun Five-Star Luxury Mixed-Use Development is scheduled to open in 2014.  CONTACT:   Trish Donnally 202.478.8810, ext. 150 tdonnally@forrestperkins.com

ORRESTPERKINS-designed JW Marriott Hotel Featured on The Today Show

FEATURED PROJECTS   ON THE BOARDS    HOTELS    SPAS    MULTI-RESIDENTIAL FORRESTPERKINS-designed JW Marriott Hotel Featured on The Today Show    JW Marriott San Antonio Is One of Travel + Leisure's Favorites for Spring Break Family Getaways Washington, DC (March 2011) - ForrestPerkins designed the spectacular JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in Texas that was the first hotel featured on The Today Show, when it recently highlighted Travel & Leisure's suggestions for "5 Spring Break Getaways for the Family." Nilou Motamed, features director for Travel + Leisure, said the hotel "has everything you would want on the property." The new LEED-certified resort, which is the largest JW Marriott resort in the world, includes 1,002 rooms, seven unique dining options, a breathtaking spa, two championship golf courses and even a water park on the property. Click on either image below to watch: Another ForrestPerkins-designed hotel, The Nines in Portland, Oregon was also featured on The Today Show recently, when it highlighted Travel & Leisure's World's Best Hotels for 2011 in January. Follow the link here to see the fashionable Nines, a Luxury Collection Hotel that is LEED-certified and includes 331 rooms located within the top floors of the iconic Meier & Frank building, a former department store: Take a look: The Today Show Featuring the Nines  CONTACT:   Trish Donnally 202.478.8810, ext. 150 tdonnally@forrestperkins.com www.forrestperkins.com Director of Communications ForrestPerkins

Interior Design Magazine Daily Fix on Cool new NY Building

New York by Gehry Opens to Tenants in Lower Manhattan

A standard inclusion on every architect’s checklist is the ground-up design of a bonafide skyscraper. Surprisingly, Frank Gehry checks his off only this year with the completion of the 870-foot New York by Gehry. The delay of this particular accomplishment, however, becomes somewhat more coherent when one begins to count the superlatives attached to the 76-story residential tower—the Western Hemisphere’s tallest—and mixed-use development on Spruce Street in lower Manhattan.

The architect’s signature ripples come courtesy of stainless-steel curtain wall cladding the exterior. Those undulations, the influence of which the architect attributes to Gianlorenzo Bernini and the engineering of which were determined by a software platform developed by Gehry Technologies called Digital Project, affect the interior scheme as bulges on the façade allow for a multitude of Gaudi-like interior window bays. The lack of uniformity has allowed for some 200 unique floor plans from which tenants may choose. Currently, 18 studio, one- and two-bedroom rental models are on view to the public. White oak flooring and custom Douglas Fir woodwork grace the lobby.

The building is surrounded by 15,000 square feet of public plaza landscaped by Field Operations and Dutch horticulturistPiet Oudolf, the team responsible for the creative reuse and design of New York’s defunct High Line train rail. A 100,000-square-foot public primary school with a rooftop play area will occupy the building’s first five floors. Formerly used as a parking lot by New York Downtown Hospital, which sold the site for development, the building also features offices and ambulatory-care facilities for professionals affiliated with the hospital. Car commuters needn’t worry, however: 26,000 square feet of below-grade garage is available for 175 hospital vehicles.

The 22,000 square feet of residential amenities include fitness and spa facilities and entertainment spaces, including a terrace for outdoor grilling, a library, children’s playrooms, and screening and game rooms with custom seating. A skylighted swimming pool is enclosed by retracting glass doors that open onto a wraparound sundeck. Penthouse tenants, depending on direction, will be able to enjoy views of the Hudson River’s piers and parks, all five East River bridges, the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, all the way to a northern horizon including Central Park and the George Washington Bridge.

Images courtesy of New York by Gehry.

Article Source: http://dailyfix.interiordesign.net/projects/residential/3536/new-york-by-gehry-opens-to-tenants-in-lower-manhattan

Photo of the Week

Check out these awesome Abstract PHOTOS... yes PHOTO's provided to us by Infinity Pix. 

To include these or some other custom photography in one of your upcoming projects visit www.infinitypix.com!

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From OTJ ArchiTect's Blog

The Lorton Workhouse Arts Center: How OTJ Architects Designs for Adaptive Reuse Projects

JAN26

  Last month, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell appeared alongside Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Phase II of the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center. OTJ Architects’ Partner and Studio Director Tony Martin has been managing this 85,000 SF project since 2009, where the Lorton Arts Foundation is creatively readapting a historic prison complex that was first commissioned at the beginning of the 20th Century under President Theodore Roosevelt. This facility was originally intended to provide prisoners with fresh air, natural light and structured, purposeful work as the basis for their rehabilitation. Agricultural operations began at the Workhouse in 1912 and the prisoners created a brick plant where they produced bricks to construct the permanent buildings that now make up the Workhouse Arts Center. Instead of taking shovels to dirt at the December event, Governor McDonnell and Chairman Bulova took sledgehammers to bricks as a ceremonial homage to this unique aspect of the Workhouse’s history.

  The story of this adaptive reuse began in the 1980’s, when overcrowding had become an issue and the buildings were in a state of severe disrepair. The conditions continued to worsen until DC prison officials were finally ordered to begin transferring prisoners out of the Lorton facility in preparation for its closing in 1997. Fairfax County received the property title five years later, a transfer made possible through the Lorton Technical Corrections Act that required the county to develop an adaptive re-use plan for the land and former prison facilities. The Lorton Arts Foundation came up with an idea to transform this series of indoor/outdoor spaces into a cultural arts center. In July 2004, a century after Roosevelt put forth his original vision for this plot of land, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning of a 55-acre portion of the former correctional facility to become the Workhouse Arts Center. September 2008 marked the official grand opening of Phase I (designed by BBGM), when visitors could tour the grounds, learn about the history of the complex, visit the artists’ studios, participate in art classes and workshops, attend musical and theatre performances and visit the two-story gallery building.

  OTJ Architects was then hired to complete Phase II, which included the renovation and design of three more spaces – The Kid’s Zone, The Events Center, and the Performance Theater. The Kid’s Zone, a 7,500 SF former dormitory building, is set to open in the summer of 2011 with several classrooms and a 100-person state of the art studio theater. By Fall 2011, the space that once served as the prisoner’s dining hall will become a 600-seat event/conference center – equipped with a full-service kitchen, bridal suite, a multi-use conference center and a movable dividing wall.

  Last but not least, next winter will see the conversion of a 12,000 SF former multi-use gym and meeting building into a 300-seat performance theater with a new mezzanine level, and newly excavated lower level for dressing areas. This will effectively complete Phase I and Phase II – the adaptive reuse segments of the project. The new construction portions, Phase III, are likely to break ground in 2012 and will include an amphitheater, artist residences, and restaurants. There have also been discussions of converting the existing campus power plant into a microbrewery, as well as potentially adding a culinary arts center and/or a performing arts branch of a regional university into the mix.

  Since the entire site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the concept of “Adaptive Reuse” has truly been a driving force in the redevelopment process. Wherever possible, historic and recovered on-site materials are incorporated, and all these projects use the latest energy efficiency, waste reduction and conservation techniques. In fact, based on an ongoing feasibility study the entire complex will be designed to reuse methane gas from the adjacent landfill for as many of the new and renovated facilities as possible.

  Lorton is now the fastest growing part of the county, and the Workhouse Arts Center is quickly establishing itself as the region’s most distinctive cultural arts complex. When all phases of the renovation are complete it will consist of 150,000 square feet of adaptively reused buildings, as well as 60,000 square feet of new construction and 40 acres of open green space. OTJ Architects is proud of the partnership it has nurtured with the Lorton Arts Foundation, and is looking forward to turning their innovative vision into a reality in the years to come.

For more information on the Lorton Arts Foundation, visit:  http://www.lortonarts.org/

For more information on the Worhouse Arts Center, visit:  http://www.workhousearts.org/

Check out their Blog Here: http://www.otj.com/Blog/EntryId/21/The-Lorton-Workhouse-Arts-Center-How-OTJ-Architects-Designs-for-Adaptive-Reuse-Projects.aspx

MANCINI·DUFFY/WINSTANLEY RECEIVES NAIOP AWARD

MANCINI·DUFFY/WINSTANLEY RECEIVES NAIOP AWARD

Old Town Alexandria Project Named “Best Building Renovation”

Washington, D.C., February 16, 2011 — Mancini·Duffy/Winstanley, a full-service architecture, planning and design firm with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., was recently awarded Best Building Renovation Adaptive Re-Use: Award of Merit for their project at 107 N. West St. in Old Town, Alexandria at the Best of NAIOP Northern Virginia Awards program. The NAIOP Awards recognize the best in the Northern Virginia commercial, industrial and mixed-use real estate community. The awards program highlighted the dedication of outstanding individuals and companies that contribute to the success of the region.

The design theme for the107 N. West St. project was to renovate a semi-abandoned 4,350 SF warehouse in a mid-block location to accommodate Mancini·Duffy/Winstanley’s Virginia office and a photography studio. Mancini·Duffy/Winstanley utilized all the sustainable components that were possible within the scope of the project, such as rehabilitation, daylighting, energy conservation, natural ventilation and public transportation. The building was marketed by the real estate broker as a “tear-down and rebuild” development opportunity, but because the new owners intended to be owner-occupiers, economic factors such as Small Business Administration financing and tax credits allowed them to salvage the existing structure and renovate it.

“We are thrilled to have been recognized by NAIOP for 107. N. West St. This is a developers’ award, and we’re architects,” said Michael Winstanley, AIA, AICP, Mancini Duffy Winstanley’s CEO and Design Principal. “It’s a great feeling to be honored by our clients’ peer group.”

“Mancini·Duffy/Winstanley is extremely proud of this renovation, because it directly relates to two issues that are critical in American society: restoring safe and lively urban environments and supporting small businesses,” said Winstanley. “The preservation of this building contributed to the retention of the historic fabric and character that makes Old Town the special community that it is.”

Joining Mancini·Duffy/Winstanley on the 107 N. West St. project team were 107 N. West Street, LLC, Simpson Properties and Nardi Construction. The building currently houses Jessica Marcotte Photography and the Mancini·Duffy/Winstanley planning practice.

# # #

ABOUT MANCINI·DUFFY/WINSTANLEY

Founded in 1920,Mancini·Duffy/Winstanley is an architecture, planning and design firm with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C. Mancini·Duffy/Winstanley’s strong portfolio includes retail, residential, transportation, hospitality, corporate, and college and university projects. For more information, please visit www.manciniduffy.com.

Article Source:

CONTACT:                    Lisa Harlow

COMPANY NAME:        SPIN LLC
PHONE NUMBER:         410-889-4112
FAX NUMBER:              410-889-4492
EMAIL ADDRESS:        LisaH@spinllc.com
WEBSITE URL:             www.spinllc.com